OCR Text |
Show TheJecondBookeof thefirpare CuarigSy Groffe,then the ewifhfactifices and ceretnonieswhich were Types and figures|of chrif (Chriftbeitig the body of thofe fhadowes)ceafed to binde the confciences any longer: therityftety of our redemption being now by.chrif and in him finithed.In tokenwhe res of,thevaile ofthe Templerent aftnder noting that the ceremioniallvailes thadowes ‘Weie now tobe remioned, not that themorall lav ofthe Commandementsand was hereby abolithed; ot weaknedat all» otherwifechan that it had nor power to condemneaccor ditigto the Zewifh dodtrine,as aforefaid. For the obferiting of the law was by Chrif him. felfe feuerely commanded: our louetowards God beitig thereby ro herein Dawid fo much teioyced, as hee preferredthe obferuation be witnefled, And of that the world could yeeld.m via tefliteoniorum tworums deleCarus\ficans,the Law,before all ficwet is omiwibea di witys 31 bane been Aelightedin thy live, asin allmanner of riches: Aud againe, The Law oftly wouth i good for me aboue thoujands ofgold and filner. This is the lome of God (faith Sian) shat we keepe his Commandement-And that there is io excufe for the neglect of the things commanded in the law, God himfelfe in Deuteronomy witnefleth. The Commeandement Toba y. Dent. 30.1. 126 (faith he) which Lconsmandthee thivday,is not bidSrom 13.0 14- Rom.6.10.9, 7% thee,peither is it farre off. 1¢is wor in g, Peauen shat thew {hoaldstfay, who (ball£0upfor us te heauen, and bring it us,and caufevsth ° beareitthat we may doit? neither iit beyond the Sea,thasthonfbouldeft (ey, who(ball‘go omer the'sea for vsand bring it ustc. but the wordis very metre umte thee.ewen in thy mouth, ank in thyheartfor to doit. Behold (faith Mofes)t haue fer before theethis daylife undenil,inthat rcommand thee this day,tolouethe Lord hetpe bis Commandements, and his Ordinances,and Cap.g.rK Gap,320504 and deathgud thy God,to walke in his waiesendto™ Lawes, that thoy meaifs line gre. Nee therisit faidin vaine itt Saint Atethew Si vis ad his vitam ingredi, ferua mandate 5 ifthon Wilt exter intolifekeepe the Commandements:andin Silohn; Sciequia mandatum cius vitae sernaeft ; know thathis Commandementis life enerlafting, Andif this bee the charitieof God, or ofMen towards God,as S.obs hath tauight, to witsthat we keepe his Commat ts : Certainely hee is buta lyar; that profeficthto loue God, and negledtetheo ob tue theword ofhis will, withall his power. Andthough Iconfefle it nor in mans bilitywithout the fpeciall grace of God,to the lave (Chri only asman excepted) yet if wee rightly confider the merciful carefulfill which God had ofhis peoplein thole his Commmandements, we thall finde in our fel flip ouraffedions; i i the word of God rather ter! i thofe difficulties it felfe. For this is the lone ofGod,that aren0k greeuows. t ohn 5:12. and we heepe his Co:mnammandements ej his Commandemtss if wee examine them each after other, in the ballance of our confe ences: : ‘itis Itisnor hard indge,by what eafie perfwaffons i for any man to ur own ow. e power,as vawi Vicit again our pleafing defites, we fteale away7 fjfom our willi ngg to llin §.XILL. Of the Seucrall Commandements of the Deca 45 008 inre)pect of the Com logue : end thet the diffeahy maudements, but by our default, Orbythefir we are re commanded to acknowled ¢,ferv F whereby are we int e, iced tothe breachof thi s hsaefecing dnpe God. ‘Now, may Sosceie and know, tha cetnate t infi nite pow er cannot be % at .is - aacceenie thatby this ided into manyinfinities: aiighsy Vnitie,all thidiu mued, And if brutebeat ngs ts had this soritdee oftheir hanebin caufed and arecot Pftars: -utidence he hathal Creator, and howin his pi @ prouided for ene: | pastisno doubt but that they Woiild alfe toescuitens oe e ree: i: ist Si s: Ps wea, Whereo ;- of doubt, he forbidding of Idolatry,and worthipofIte mages: chemalitg was nor theinuention ofanil ome lintent in the beginning, fec ing™ He frit citact erection Was for their Verntue : vntill (fai faitthh Latlantius the the diudi elf cto‘keepsue th, £ a the firffintent) workin slicesundchat men fam g in Weak and ignorantSilkeang edereoFBeted ao Feafon of ‘ants efaieaniRatthfHfis, Abent erpee pe i| the other, to ferue elte thereb y. Forwhat reafonable man,f nN of God, will call'n him thofeblinde, deafedumbc ,and dead ets wo Cuar.4. §.13. of the Fiftorie ofthe World. worthleffe then the moft worthleffe of thofejthat havinglife and reafon, implore their helpe, which hate neither : yeayof more vilde prize and bafer,t han the bafeft ofbeafts, who haue fenfe and eftimation ¢ For what doe we thereby( faith the Wifedome of sa/gWiha 20,1, monbut callto the weake for helpe, pray tothe dead for life, require side ofhim that hath no experience, afsiftance in our ionrnies ofhive that cannotgoc, andfucceffe in our affaires ofhim that hath xo power ? And whetherthe Idolater, or the blocke, to which he srayeth, bee 3 more fenfelefle; Dawid maketha doubt. For(faith he ) theythat make them are like vptg Pm 352% them,andfoareall there} thar trufl ix them. The breach of thethird Commandement,is neither perfwaded by worldl y , x0 nor worldlyprofit: the two greateft inchanters of mortall men. No, weare nopleafure way allured tothis horrible difdaine of God, vnleffe the hate of good men, and Gods curfe, be accounted an aduantage. Foras ourcorrupteftnature giues vs nothing towards ir, fo cari it fatisfic 110 one appetite, except everlafting forrow, and hell dwell in our defire. And thereforethis ftrange cuftomie hath the diuell brought vp among men; without all fubtletie of argument,or cunning perfwafion, taking thereby the greateft and moft {cornfult aduantage ouetvs. Forflaughter fatisficth hatred, Theft giues fatisfaG ion to need, Adultery toluft, Oppteffion to couctoufnefle : but this contemptuous offence of blafphemy; and theirreuerentabufe of Gods name, as it giveth no helpeto any of our worldly affeGions, fothemoft faluage Nations of the world doe nor vie it. z0 The fourth Comitnandement,to keepethe sabbath day holy, hath neither pain, burthen, norinconuenience. Forirgiuethreft tothe laborer, and confola tion to their Ma: fters. Andthat this law was impofed on man forhis benefir, Atofes teachet fon ofthe law : asin Exod.23.12.Andin thefeucath daythou fbalt ref,that h in the reas thine Oxe and thine Affe may ref}, and the Sonne ofthy maide, andthe Stranger may be refrefbed. The firft of the fecond Tableto honour ourParents, with whom weeareone and the ame,is a gratitude whichnature it{elfe hath taught vs towards them, who after God gauevslife and being, hane begotten vs,and borne vs, cherith ed vs helpleffe infancie,and beftowed on vs the harueftand profit of their in our weake and labours and cares; Therefore, in the Temporall and Iudiciall ordinances, curfing of parents, orthe offering 3othem violence, was madedeath. Thenextis, that'thou fhalt not Murther,that is, thou fhalt not the affections of hatred? For the law of God, and after itiour doe theaétes following the law of all Nations, haue madedifference between flaughte owne lawes, and in effect rcafuall,and furious. 4f: Setio enimtua (faith Bragon) impontt nomen operituo; It ts the the worke[uch asit is:And certainly,whofoeuer cannot forbea affection and willthat makes re to comunit murther,hath neither the grace of God, norany vie of his owne will. The'hird of the:fecond Table, commandsvs from Adultery. Now,if the preferuation of Virginity haue bene poffible, for thoufands of Men and Women , who inall A= nuptie ; ges haue majtered theirflefhly defires,andhaue returned chafte to theit graue: Itcannot Seca 4° be accouin teda buttheh,to forbeare the difhonourand iniurie, which wee offerto others ligase by fucha violation, feeing marriage is permitted by the lawes of God, and Men, to:all that affe@ir. Andthere is noman liuing whomthe defire of beauty and forme hath {9 conftrained, but he might with eafe forbeare the profequ ution of felfe giue facketo this Infant, and nourifhwarmth till it growto thisill_: didnot himftrong heate,heate till it turncto.fire, and fireto flame. Thefourth ofthe fecond Table, is, that we fhall notfteales And ifthat kinde of vio- lent robbery had beetie viedin Mofes time, which many Ruffians practife now a-dayes in England,andto the difhonorof our Nation more in England, thanin any Region of the world among chriflians ; outof doubt, he would haue cenfured them by death, and 5° notbyreftiruion, thoughquadruple. For I {peak norof the poore and miferable foules; whomhu nger and extreame neceffitic inforceth, but of thofe detefted Theeues , whota maintaine themf{elues Lord-like, affault, rob, and wound the Merchant, Artificer, and bouting man orbreake by violence into other mens honfes, and {pend in Brauerie, Drunken neffe, and vpon Harlots, in one day, what other men-fometime haue laboured forall theirlines: impouerifhing whole Families, and taking the bread and foodefrom the mouthes of theirchildren. And that this Commandement mightea fily be obferued; it Would foone appeare, if Princes would refolue, but fora few yeeres to pardon none, For, itisthe hope oflife, and the argumentof {paring the firlt offence, that ees thele |